JP2001249380A - Digital color image forming method, and camera for photographing and image forming device used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital color image forming method, a camera for photographing and an image-forming device by which an excellent color image is obtained and high sensitivity is obtained at photographing. SOLUTION: The camera is provided with a color separation means for spectrally splitting light into different color components and discretely recording them between a shutter mechanism and silver halide photosensitive material inside. In this digital color image forming method, image information is read by a means for converting the color component information of a subject recorded discretely on the surface of photosensitive material into an electrical signal, the image information of every color component discretely recorded by the color separation means is obtained by a means for regulating the position of image data, and the color image is reproduced by a means for interpolating a missed information area in the color component image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera which is capable of obtaining an excellent color image even with a silver halide light-sensitive material having no color discrimination ability (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a light-sensitive material) and having high sensitivity at the time of photographing. The present invention relates to a color image forming method, a photographing camera used for the method, and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional image forming methods using conventional color photography, a photosensitive material for photographing, a so-called color negative film, usually has a layer for recording blue light to form a yellow dye image and a layer for recording green light. It mainly comprises a layer forming a magenta dye image and a layer forming a cyan dye image by recording red light.
Therefore, the function of a conventional color negative film is to convert the light / dark information of each color component of a subject into image density information of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and through a color printing process, to a blue light-sensitive layer of color paper and a green light-sensitive layer. Layer and the red-sensitive layer, respectively. The performance elements of the color film for photographing are mainly expressed by photographing sensitivity and image quality, and the image quality elements are further classified into granularity, sharpness, and color reproducibility. In general, to improve the performance of this color film for photography, while improving the sensitivity, granularity, and sharpness of each photosensitive layer,
In order to obtain the desired color reproducibility, the spectral sensitivity distribution is adjusted, and a compound that releases a development inhibitor during color development, that is, a so-called DIR compound is included to enhance the interlayer development suppression effect, so-called interimage effect. . However, there is a trade-off relationship that image quality tends to be impaired as the sensitivity is increased, and the history of the development and improvement of color film for photography can be said to be the history of technology development to achieve both sensitivity and image quality. It's not too much to say.

On the other hand, an image formed on a color negative film is optically read by using a scanner or the like, converted into an electric signal, and then subjected to image processing to produce digital image data once. A method of transferring image information to an image recording material is known. In this case, color prints can be obtained through various types of non-silver salt printers such as inkjet printers, sublimation printers, and electrophotographic systems, as well as digital printers that obtain color prints by scanning and exposing photosensitive materials such as color paper. It is. In these methods of once converting to digital image data, especially when it is not assumed that image information recorded on a color film for photographing is directly projected on color paper through an optical system to produce a color print, There is no restriction on the color film design that the blue information, green information, and red information must always correspond to the yellow, magenta, and cyan dye image information, respectively. There is room for improvement.

As a photosensitive element for temporarily converting into digital image data without assuming the optical printing as described above, for example, US Pat. Nos. 5,418,119 and 5,420,003 disclose a photosensitive element. By including a fluorescent substance in the intermediate layer, different blue-sensitive layers, green-sensitive layers, and red-sensitive layers do not use different color-forming couplers, respectively, so that different photosensitive layers obtained after the development processing can be used. There is disclosed a method of extracting a blue, green, and red color separation image by scanning and calculating a hue image by both reflection and transmission methods. Although this method can be said to be advantageous in simplifying the photosensitive material and the developing process and performing rapid development processing, it cannot be a means for improving the image quality of the conventional color photosensitive material.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-34541 discloses that the centroid wavelength of the distribution of the magnitude of the multilayer effect received in the green region of the red photosensitive layer relative to the centroid wavelength of the spectral sensitivity of the green photosensitive layer is a short wavelength. As a means for achieving this, there is disclosed a method of providing a so-called donor layer that gives a suppressing effect to the red photosensitive layer. This method is effective for achieving more faithful color reproduction, but the color development of the color-developed film is basically integrated into three types of information, yellow, magenta, and cyan, and the image is read by a scanner. It does not provide special information at the time, and cannot be said to be an aggressive means for obtaining a high sensitivity and high quality color digital image.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-4624 discloses a means for providing an invisible light-sensitive color reproduction improving layer on a light-sensitive material. Typically, yellow, magenta, and cyan
It was integrated into the information of the species and did not provide any special information when reading the image with a scanner. In addition, Japanese Patent Application No. 9-
No. 308669 discloses means for extracting information of the invisible photosensitive layer as separate information when scanning a color-developed film and blending the information with an RGB signal to improve color reproduction. The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate some of the disadvantages of color reproduction due to the provision of the invisible photosensitive layer, and cannot be said to be a technical means for eliminating the trade-off relationship between sensitivity and color reproduction.

Japanese Patent Application No. 11-119701 has a photosensitive layer (luminance information recording layer) for recording luminance information and extracts color information for extracting luminance information and color information of a digital color image. Photosensitive layer for recording (color information recording layer)
A silver halide color light-sensitive material having an independent color light-sensitive material is described. The function of the luminance information recording layer is two. One of the functions is that when the spectral sensitivity distribution is largely changed in a conventional color photographic light-sensitive material, hue reproduction is performed. For solving the problem that a practical color image cannot be obtained due to a serious influence on the image quality. Another is a means for improving the sharpness resolution when a stripe or mosaic color separation color filter array layer is used. It is.

It is known that the method using the color separation color filter array layer in the form of stripes or mosaics is superior to the conventional color photographic light-sensitive material alone in that the layer structure can be simplified. In the case where it is necessary to improve the sharpness resolution by providing the luminance information recording layer, the filter pitch is increased or the photographing screen area (hereinafter, referred to as the
(Also called “format”) or output at a high magnification.

[0009] The photographing area of a conventionally known 35 mm size film (24 mm long x 36 mm wide) (864 m
The form of the color light-sensitive material for photography other than m ² ) includes a vertical 17
mm × width 30 mm (area 510 mm ² ), 110 film length 13 mm × width 17 mm (area 2
21mm ² ), Minox 8mm x 11mm (area 88mm ² ), disc film, etc., all of which use formats reduced both vertically and horizontally from the 35mm size, making cameras and films with lenses more compact. It is standardized and used for the purpose of expanding shooting applications. When the reduced format is used, a higher magnification is required to produce a hard copy of the same size as that of the 35 mm size, and the image quality is reduced accordingly. According to the same principle, the size of the filter element constituting the color filter array layer occupying the hard copy increases in accordance with the magnification. That is, when the filter pitch is defined so that a sufficient sharp resolution is obtained on the output hard copy, the luminance information recording layer is no longer required. In short, the luminance information recording layer and the color filter array layer are provided in order to respond to requests such as colorization of a monochrome film and improvement of sharpness resolution, and each of them can be provided as needed. The structure is what is originally ideal.

[0010] Even when a monochrome film is used, RG
It is known that a color image can be obtained by synthesizing images separated and photographed by using three B filters.
However, it is practically impossible to sequentially switch the RGB filters at the time of photographing to perform exposure for a moving subject, and the number of photographed frames is three times for one photographing, which is not efficient. .

A digital color camera uses only one image sensor, called a single-panel type, and is compatible with a color fill array layer of a Bayer pattern for colorization and improvement of sensitivity and individual filter elements. There is known a device having a structure in which a layer combining light collecting means called a micro lens is integrated with an imaging element.

Japanese Patent Application No. 11-328184 describes an existing color photographic light-sensitive material using the microlens as a condensing means. Although the sensitivity can be improved by using a microlens, it has been premised to use a photosensitive material having such a color discrimination ability in order to obtain a high color image quality. Even when the CCD sensor itself is monochrome, which does not have color discrimination ability, as in the single-panel digital color camera, there is known means capable of simultaneously achieving colorization and high sensitivity, but it has color discrimination ability. However, application to silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials which have not been performed could not be realized.

[0013]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an excellent color image can be obtained even when a silver halide photographic material having no color discrimination ability is used. Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital color image forming method capable of obtaining high sensitivity during photographing, a photographing camera and an image forming apparatus used for the method.

[0014]

The above object has been attained by the following means.

1. Color separation means for separating the subject information into different color components and discretely recording the information between the shutter mechanism in the camera and the silver halide light-sensitive material, wherein the color separation means The color component information of the subject is discretely recorded on the surface, and after the silver halide light-sensitive material is developed, the image information is read by means for converting the signal into an electric signal, and the means for defining the position of the image data is used. Digital image formation, wherein image information for each color component recorded discretely by the color separation means is obtained, and a color image is reproduced by means for interpolating a missing information area in each color component image. Method.

2. At the time of photographing, there is provided a means for recording image information on the silver halide light-sensitive material by bringing a color separation means which separates each color component into discrete light and separately records the color components into close contact with a photosensitive surface of the silver halide light-sensitive material. A photographing camera characterized by the following.

3. 3. The photographing camera according to claim 2, further comprising: means for providing information identifying that the recording has been performed by the color separation means to the silver halide photosensitive material.

4. Means for identifying that the material is a silver halide photosensitive material photographed by using color separation means for separating image information into different color components and recording each discretely, image information recorded on the silver halide photosensitive material Means for converting a color image into an electric signal to reproduce a monochrome image, means for defining the position of image data corresponding to each color component discretely recorded by the color separation means, and a missing information area in each color component image An image forming apparatus comprising means for interpolating color and reproducing a color image.

5. 2. The digital color image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the color separating unit is combined with a light collecting unit.

6. 4. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the color separating unit is combined with a light collecting unit.

7. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the color separation unit is combined with a light collecting unit.

8. 2. The digital color image forming method according to claim 1, wherein said color separation means has a light collecting means.

9. 4. The photographing camera according to claim 2, wherein the color separation means has a light collecting means.

10. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the color separation unit has a unit for condensing light.

[11] 9. The digital color image forming method according to claim 5, wherein the color separating unit is a stripe or mosaic color separation color filter.

12. 10. The camera according to claim 6, wherein the color separation means is a stripe or mosaic color separation color filter.

13. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the color separation unit is a stripe or mosaic color separation color filter.

14. 12. The digital color image forming method according to claim 11, wherein the condensing unit is a micro lens.

15. 13. The camera according to claim 12, wherein the condensing unit is a microlens.

16. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the condensing unit is a micro lens.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. The present invention is characterized in that there is provided a color separation means between the shutter mechanism in the camera and the silver halide photosensitive material for separating the subject information into different color components and discretely recording each.

The color separating means referred to in the present invention is a means having a function of dispersing color information of a subject incident on a photographic camera or the like into different color components and discretely recording each color component. Alternatively, a mosaic color separation color filter array may be used. Representative examples of the “different color components” in the present invention are three primary colors of RGB. The term "discretely" as used in the present invention means a state in which the different color components do not overlap.

The invention according to claims 11 to 13 is characterized in that a stripe or mosaic color separation color filter array is used as the color separation means.

As a method of arranging the color filters in a mosaic form, there are a lattice arrangement method represented by a Bayer arrangement, an arrangement in which triangles, hexagons, and circles are spread. The arrangement of each color may be regular or completely random. Various known methods can be used to manufacture this color filter. Representative color filter manufacturing methods include a pigment dispersion method in which a photosensitive resin layer in which a pigment is dispersed is formed on a substrate, and a monochromatic pattern is formed by patterning the photosensitive resin layer. A method of applying a conductive polymer material, patterning it into a desired shape by a photolithography process, immersing the obtained pattern in a dyeing bath to obtain a colored pattern, dispersing a pigment in a thermosetting resin, A printing method in which R and B are separately applied by repeating printing twice, and then a resin is thermally cured to form a colored layer. A colored liquid containing a dye is discharged onto a light-transmissive substrate by an inkjet method. Then, there is an ink-jet method of drying each colored liquid to form a colored pixel portion.

As a method for producing a color filter having a random arrangement, the method described in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-326017 can be used.

Further, as a method for producing a stripe-shaped color filter, there is a method of Photographic Sc.
"ice and Engineering, vo"
l. 21, 225 (1977).

As a camera which can incorporate a color separating means (hereinafter referred to as a color separating means of the present invention) for separating and recording each of the different color components separately according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the color separating means of the present invention), And any form of film with a lens. For example, a camera with a 110 camera, a Minox camera, a film with a lens having a continuous shooting function of 8 frames or a stereoscopic photographing function, or a unique format as a dedicated camera for obtaining digital image data. May be prepared in the form of a lens-equipped film having a function of continuously photographing or stereoscopic photographing.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram in which color separation means is mounted in the camera of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing recording from the color separation means on the photosensitive material surface. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a color filter array which is an example of a color separating unit. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show a mode in which the color separation means is automatically set as necessary when the color separation means of the present invention is appropriately selected and used in a single-lens reflex camera or the like. FIG. 4 shows a conceptual diagram of a mechanism that is manually attached each time.
Further, when high photographing sensitivity is required, a light control mechanism may be provided. As shown in FIG. 9, ND for dimming
It is also preferable that a (neutral density) filter or the like is provided with a mechanism for automatically switching a filter or the like in front of the photographing lens or inside the camera, and is switched depending on whether or not the color separating means is used.

The form of the photosensitive material in the present invention is as follows.
There is no particular limitation, and a normal roll film is preferable,
Further, it is preferable that the camera is a disk type like a disk film in that the camera can be made thin. Further, it is more preferable that the processing time is shortened if the design is such that the photographed photosensitive material is not taken out of the camera at the time of color development processing and can be processed simply by setting it in the development processing machine as it is.

The fifth to sixteenth aspects of the present invention are characterized in that when higher photographing sensitivity is required, the color separating means of the present invention and the light collecting means are used in combination. FIG. 4 shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention in which the color separating means of the present invention and the light collecting means are combined.

The invention of claims 5 to 7 is characterized in that the light condensing means is appropriately selected and used together with the color separation means of the present invention. Specifically, in a system using the color separation means, the form in which the light condensing means is automatically set as needed, or the form in which the photographer manually attaches each time may be used. In the invention of claims 5 to 7, there is further provided a mechanism for automatically switching a light control ND filter or the like as shown in FIG. Is also preferable.

In the invention of claims 8 to 10,
The present invention is characterized in that the color separating means of the present invention is provided with a means for condensing light and is used in an integrated form.

As means for condensing light in the present invention, a micro lens, a lenticular lens, and the like can be cited. In the invention according to claims 14 to 16,
Because high sensitivity can be obtained at the time of shooting, Japanese Patent Application No. 11-328
It is characterized in that the microlens described in Japanese Patent No. 184 is used as a light collecting means. The arrangement of the microlenses used in the present invention is preferably in a lattice shape. However, the arrangement of the microlenses is not uniform or the microlenses having different diameters (diameters in plan view) are arranged. It may be.

The arrangement of the microlenses used in the present invention is as follows.
It is not always necessary to correspond to the arrangement structure of the color separation means, but it goes without saying that the state where the correspondence (that is, the lens and the filter match) is the best if processing accuracy is involved. In addition, the diameter of the micro lens (diameter in plan view)
However, a configuration in which different ones are arranged for each color or at a position in a shooting screen may be adopted. Further, as for the arrangement in the photographing camera, it is desirable to arrange the light collecting means and then the color separating means from the subject side.

In general, the light collection rate (sensitivity) of a microlens is determined by the ratio of the area occupied by the microlens itself in the plane on which the microlens is arranged and the irradiation area condensed by the microlens. Is done. In the present invention, the condensing area per microlens on the photosensitive material surface is 50% or less of the area of one lens,
That is, it is preferable to double the amount of received light per unit area. On the other hand, as long as the level of precision such as flatness can be maintained at a high level, it is also a preferable embodiment to control the light collection rate by a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the microlens array and the photosensitive material. However, if the focal length of light condensed by the microlens is designed to be long, the influence of blurring of the image on the surface of the photographic photosensitive material is likely to increase, so that the focal length is naturally limited.

A method of manufacturing a microlens array in which microlenses are arranged is described in JP-A-5-40216.
No., 10-62606, 10-123305,
As disclosed in JP-A-10-177104 and JP-A-11-160502, the microlens array according to the present invention has no particular restrictions on the manufacturing method and material selection. The accuracy of the microlens should be selected so that the error from the design stage is within 5%, because it affects the rate and affects the resulting shooting sensitivity and the sensitivity level within one screen. preferable.

The second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a means for bringing a color separating means such as a color filter arrangement into close contact with a silver halide emulsion surface of a light-sensitive material at the time of photographing is provided.

Further, the photographing camera of the present invention has a means for bringing a color separating means such as a color filter array provided with a condensing means such as a microlens and the like into close contact with the silver halide emulsion surface of the photosensitive material. Is preferred.

The means for bringing the color separation means of the present invention into close contact with the surface of the silver halide emulsion of the light-sensitive material is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 6, a gap for passing the photosensitive material is provided in the color separating means portion (for example, a color filter array portion) as shown in FIG. It may be a form that can be completely accommodated in the device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when reading image information or requesting printing, it is possible to identify that the photographed photosensitive material is a frame photographed by using the color separating means or the light collecting means. It is characterized by incorporating information providing means for the purpose. Specifically, when the information is recorded optically, a method of providing a light-shielding portion in the color separation unit for recording a minute missing portion that can be corrected by the subsequent image processing in the shooting screen, or A method of recording information by printing a latent image on the outside of the photographing screen, for example, in a perforation section, or a method of recording information using a photosensitive material having a magnetic recording layer when using magnetic recording or the like, or a color recording method. A projection may be provided on a filter, a crimping plate, or the like, and a physical recording method using the projection may be used.

As specific means for automatically recognizing that the processed image is a photographed image using color separation means,
For example, as described above, as a means for confirming a signal optically recorded at a predetermined position in a shooting screen, a function for recognizing the signal by pattern matching or the like and a function for determining the signal before interpolation processing are provided to software. There is a method of providing. As a means for reading a signal similarly recorded outside the shooting screen, a method using a film holder having the recognition function, a method for adding a discriminating means together with a function for adjusting the size of the read screen, or a method for directly reading magnetic recording information Etc. Among the above-mentioned means, it is particularly preferable to record a signal in a photographing screen since a signal can be easily determined using a commercially available film scanner and interpolation software can be easily incorporated.

Examples of commercially available scanners for 35 mm film that can be used in the present invention include Qscan manufactured by Konica Corporation. As an image sensor (imaging element) used in a commercially available film scanner device as described above, a CCD having a CCD arranged in one line is used.
Although a device comprising a two-dimensional line sensor and a scanning mechanism is generally used, in the present invention, it is preferable to use a device comprising a two-dimensional monochrome CCD area sensor. In the present invention, in order to more efficiently separate red, green, and blue visible color image information, a rotating plate provided with each of red, green, and blue filters is provided between the imaging element and the photosensitive material. It is preferable that reading is performed by rotating the rotating plate. Of course, the method of reading the visible color separation image is not limited to this. For example, a light emitting diode (LED) may be used as a light source, and the light source may be switched and used. 10 and 11 show schematic block diagrams of an apparatus for reading a color separation image.

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 show the same contents except for the process of combining the luminance information with the final image in FIG.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, the subject information recorded on the film 17 after the development processing is represented by B,
An image is formed on the CCD image receiving unit 19 by irradiating any one of G and R with transmitted light. The monochrome image information photoelectrically converted by the CCD image receiving unit 19 is temporarily stored in the memory 23, read out by the photographing condition identification process 24, and the subject information recorded on the film 17 is converted by the color separation unit ( It is determined whether the image has been captured using the color filter array 2.

Subsequently, information for the color filter array is similarly taken in for forming a mask image. FIG.
0, the color filter array replaced with the film 17 in FIG. 11 has three transmitted light irradiations (R
GB), an image is formed on the CCD image receiving unit 19. CC
The three color-separated image information photoelectrically converted by the D image receiving unit 19 is temporarily stored in the memory 23. Next, when it is determined by the photographing condition identification process 24 that the image was photographed using the color filter array, the three color separation image information of the color filter array stored in the memory 23 is read by the mask image forming process 25. After it has been issued and the mask image has been produced, it is transferred to an alignment process 26.

In the alignment process 26, the memory 2
The monochromatic image information read from the film 17 stored in the memory 3 is read out and aligned with each of the RGB color-separated image information in the color filter array as shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. As a result, at the stage when the alignment is completed, the shape difference between the image information recording area 33 of the film and the mask image 34 is converged within an allowable error range.

In the positioning process 26, each of the RGB color separation image information of the film 17 extracted by masking the RGB color separation image information of the color filter array is transferred to the interpolation processing process 27, A process of interpolating missing information in the RGB color separation image information is performed.

Finally, the film 17 subjected to the interpolation processing
The RGB color separation image information is combined as one image data in the next RGB image synthesizing process 28 to become final image data.

If higher image quality is desired, FIG.
As shown in (1), the color information (ab) is extracted from the final combined image data by the color information (ab) image extraction process 30, and the monochrome image information read from the film 17 is used as the luminance information (L) to synthesize the Lab image. In the process 31, a process of synthesizing is performed.

In the present invention, in the step of converting image recording information of a photosensitive material after color development processing into electronic image information using a scanner or the like, a color separating means element and a means for defining a position of the converted information are provided. Is one of the features.

As a means for defining the position, there is a method using an image read from the color separation means itself attached to the camera. Since the image read by the color separation means itself corresponds to, for example, an arrangement pattern of red, green, and blue, it can be used as a mask for extracting each color separation image.

The alignment between the photographic frame and the image for mask is performed by using an image obtained by reading the photographic frame and the image for mask in a range smaller than the size of a screen read by a scanner.
The image processing application software can be used by using Photoshop made by Adobe. In addition, it is possible to automate the positioning by applying a pattern matching method using either the photographed frame or the mask image as a template.

The interpolation or the interpolation processing in the present invention is defined as
A process of filling a mask area generated by discrete recording by the color separation means, that is, an area occupied by another color component in a specified color component image. A non-image area generated by color separation means such as a color filter array and blocked by other filter constituent colors in a color separation image, or a non-light-collecting area (non-image area) generated by light-collecting means such as a microlens array. Need to be interpolated after reading. This interpolation process can be easily performed by using application software of a PC having an image processing function. For example, as interpolation processing in the Photoshop, filter processing such as maximum brightness or Gaussian blur is performed. If the filter arrangement direction is constant for one screen frame, averaging processing is performed only in the direction parallel to the arrangement direction. This can be performed by using a blurring (moving) function for performing the following. Of course, the interpolation processing is not limited to this, and can be easily performed by using image processing software such as Photoshop, and a series of operations can be automated.
Furthermore, an image processing program may be separately created, incorporated as a plug-in into software such as the above-mentioned photo shop, or incorporated in scanner application software to automate a series of operations.

Although the non-light-collecting area or the non-image area is removed by the interpolation processing, the resolution is low because the image information amount is still the original. Therefore, it is necessary to apply the following measures.

As an example, a light-condensing area (image area)
Is a method of obtaining an image having a sufficient resolution without affecting the output resolution by optimizing the ratio of the microlens to the entire screen, that is, by appropriately adjusting the distance at which the microlenses are arranged. As described in the previous section, in order to obtain a resolution equivalent to that obtained when a 35 mm photographic light-sensitive material is printed on an L-color print (magnification about 3.5 times), about 25 μm is required.
If image information is given at m intervals, image quality having a sufficient resolution can be obtained, so that the color filters according to the present invention are also preferably arranged at least about every 25 μm.

The output resolution of a CRT or hard copy depends on the magnification at the time of output. In the present invention,
In order to obtain sufficient resolution at an enlargement magnification of about 3.5 times corresponding to the output from a 35 mm size film to an L size, color filter array elements are arranged at intervals of about 25 μm. In order to cope with the above and to increase the arrangement interval of the color filter array elements, it is more preferable to incorporate an image processing process for improving the image quality as described below.

The present inventors have disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-11970.
No. 1, in order to extract luminance information and color information of a digital color image, a photosensitive layer (luminance information recording layer) for recording luminance information and a photosensitive layer (color information recording) for recording color information Layers) are independently proposed. As described herein, image quality can be improved by converting RGB image information into Lab image information, or by replacing the L image with a high-resolution monochrome image.
It can be preferably used in the present invention. That is, ab information, which is color information, is extracted from a color image extracted by synthesizing a color separation mask image created from a read image of the color filter itself and a monochrome image read from the developed film, and the monochrome image is extracted. Is combined with the extracted color information as L information as luminance information, thereby achieving high image quality.

Further, the present inventors have disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-77.
No. 47 proposes a method of performing a combination of a sharpening process and a smoothing process. In the present invention,
It is preferable to combine an image processing method of performing a sharpening process on the extracted luminance information and then performing a smoothing process using a unit that separates the obtained color image information into luminance information and color information. In addition, by using the above-described interpolation processing, it is possible to smooth image information and reduce noise due to a certain degree of granularity.

Each image data obtained as described above can be confirmed through various image display devices. Examples of the image display device include an arbitrary device such as a color or monochrome CRT, a liquid crystal display, a plasma light emitting display, and an EL display.

The object of the present invention is to output an image signal read in this way and to output it on another recording material to form an image. As a material for outputting an image, various hard copies can be used in addition to a silver halide photosensitive material. Specific examples of the output method include an inkjet method, a sublimation thermal transfer method, a sublimation thermal transfer method, and an electrophotographic method. There are various systems such as a system, a cycolor system, a thermoautochrome system, a method of exposing to a silver halide color paper, and a silver halide heat development system. As specific examples of the system using the above method, products such as Konica Corporation's CRT printer DP-8180, Digital Minilab QD-21, and Fuji Photo Film's Frontier 350 system are known. In any of the output systems, the effects of the present invention can be sufficiently exerted, but among them, the output material is particularly preferably a silver halide photosensitive material.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the entire image information processing in the digital image forming system according to the present invention described above.

[0072]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

Example 1 (Preparation of Print Sample 101) Focal Length 35m
A color negative film CE manufactured by Konica Corporation is attached to a Nikon SLR camera F4 equipped with a photographing lens of m and F = 2.
With NTURIA400 loaded, shutter speed 1/25
Under a condition of 0 second and an aperture of F = 8, a gray scale chart (18 steps in total) manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co., a sharpness chart manufactured by Konica, and a color chart manufactured by Macbeth were photographed. Next, the photographed sample was subjected to a color development process described in paragraphs [0220] to [0227] of JP-A-10-123652 to produce a developed sample 101.

The sample 101 obtained as described above was combined with three types of LED light sources (manufacturers: maximum peak wavelength: Stanley R: 635 nm, Nichia G: 535 nm, Nichia B: 470 nm) 2048 x 2048 pixel monochrome CCD (K manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company)
X4), the LED light sources were sequentially switched, and the R, G, and B color separation image information of the sample was read by a monochrome CCD.

Next, after applying the gradation inversion processing to the obtained three color separation images of the sample 101, the inverted color separation information of R, G, and B is converted into one image data using a Photoshop made by Adobe. Was synthesized.

Next, the sample 101 was printed on a color paper type QAA7 manufactured by Konica Corporation using an analog printer NPS858 manufactured by Konica Corporation to produce an L-version analog print of a conventional system, which was used as a reference print.

Next, the gradation of the gray scale image subjected to the above synthesis processing based on the color reproducibility of the reference print
While observing on the T screen, a color correction process for approximating the reference print was performed, and a digital composite image of each RGB corresponding to the sample 101 was produced.

Further, each of the RGB digital composite image data was converted to an L-size (89 mm.times.) At a resolution of 300 dpi using a digital minilab system QD-21 manufactured by Konica Corporation.
127 mm) of Konica color paper type QAA7 to produce an L-size print sample sample 101. In the present invention, dpi represents the number of dots per inch, that is, 2.54 cm.

(Preparation of Print Sample Specimen 102) The following Bayer-arranged color filters were attached between the periphery of the shutter screen of the main frame of the Nikon single-lens reflex camera F4 and the film guide. Further, the color filter is provided with a minute light-shielding portion in order to record a signal that can recognize that the image was taken using the color filter in the photographing screen, and further, it is recorded about 2 mm smaller than the periphery of the photographing frame of one frame. A light-shielded area was provided around the color filter. Further, in order to increase the degree of adhesion between the color filter and the photosensitive material, a component in which a sponge was attached to a plastic plate having a thickness of 0.5 mm was attached to a pressure plate of a camera back cover. A monochrome negative film sepia 400 manufactured by Konica Corporation was loaded into a camera having the above specifications, and a gray scale chart manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co., Ltd. (18 in total) was used under the exposure conditions of a shutter speed of 1/250 second and an aperture of F-8.
Step), a sharpness chart manufactured by Konica Corporation and a color chart manufactured by Macbeth Corporation were photographed, and then the color development processing was performed to prepare a developed sample 102.

<Preparation of Color Filter> On a subbed transparent polyethylene terephthalate base (thickness: 85 μm),
Sample N described in Example 1 of Japanese Patent Application No. 10-326017.
o. After a multi-layer simultaneous application of the coating liquid having the same composition as 110, adjustment and exposure were performed through a mask filter so that a square R, G, B Bayer arrangement pattern having a side length of 30 μm was formed. A color filter was prepared by performing the development processing described above.

The sample 102 manufactured as described above was
An LED light source (manufacturer: maximum peak wavelength G: 535 nm, manufactured by Nichia Corporation) was placed between the monochrome CCD (KX4 manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co.) and monochromatic separation image information was read.

Next, the Bayer-arranged color filter attached to the camera is removed, and the three types of LED light sources used for reading the sample 101 and the monochrome CCD are used.
And the LED light sources are sequentially switched to R, G, B
The color separation image information was read. The reading size is
The adjustment was made so as to be the same as the single-color separation image information of the samples 101 and 102. Therefore, a non-image area masked by the light-shielding area of the color filter arranged in the Bayer is formed around the sample 102 and the image read by the color filter.

Further, an image for a mask was prepared from a color filter read image by the method described below, and was superimposed on the read image of the sample 102, thereby extracting RGB color component images. In other words, each of the RGB mask images has a specific color position of the color filter corresponding to black (0 at an 8-bit value) and white (255 at an 8-bit value).
Were prepared by binarizing the color filter read image using a contrast adjustment function of Photoshop made by Adobe, which is image processing application software, so that indicates the color filter position of another color. In a state where the prepared three mask images for each of the RGB are superimposed on the read image of the sample 102,
The layer function of the software was used so that alignment of the images and correction of distortion could be performed. At the position of the black (0), the read image of the sample 102 is displayed, and at the position of the white (255), masking is performed to form a non-gradation image portion. The component images were extracted.

Then, the obtained three color separation images of each sample are subjected to gradation inversion processing, and each of the R, G and B inverted color separation information is converted into one image data by using a Photoshop made by Adobe. Was synthesized.

The same processing as that performed on the sample 101 was performed except that the interpolation processing was performed by the blur processing until the image processing became a uniform screen, that is, until there was no distinction between the photographing area and the non-image area of the image read by the scanner. By doing so, each digital composite image corresponding to the sample 102 and the L-size print sample sample 102 were prepared.

(Preparation of Print Sample Sample 103) A microlens array and the Bayer-arranged color filter were mounted between the periphery of a shutter screen and a film guide in the body of the Nikon single-lens reflex camera F4. In addition, the color filter is provided with a minute light-shielding portion in order to record a signal capable of recognizing that the image has been photographed using the color filter in the photographing screen. A light-shielded area was provided around the color filter. Further, in order to increase the degree of adhesion between the color filter and the photosensitive material, a thickness of 0.5
A part obtained by bonding a sponge to a plastic plate having a thickness of 1 mm was attached to a pressure-sensitive adhesive plate on a camera back cover. A monochrome negative film sepia 400 manufactured by Konica Corporation was loaded into a camera having the above specifications, and a gray scale chart (18 steps in total) manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co., Ltd. under exposure conditions of a shutter speed of 1/250 sec and an aperture of F = 8, Konica After taking a sharpness chart and a Macbeth color chart
The color developing process was performed to prepare a sample 103 which had been subjected to the developing process.

As in the case of reading the sample 102, the sample 103 was placed between the G LED light source and the monochrome CCD, and the monochrome image information was read. Next, the Bayer-arranged color filter attached to the camera was removed and inserted between the three types of LED light sources and the monochrome CCD as in the case of the sample 102, and the LED light sources were sequentially switched to change the R, G, and The B color separation image information was read.

Further, similarly to the case of the sample 102,
An image for a mask was prepared from the image read by the color filter, and was superimposed on the image read by the sample 103 to extract the R, G, and B color component images.

Next, the obtained three color separation images of each sample are subjected to gradation inversion processing, and the inverted color separation information of R, G, and B is converted into one image using the Photoshop made by Adobe. A process for synthesizing the data was performed.

Further, the same processing as that performed on the sample 101 is performed except that the interpolation processing by the blur processing is performed until a uniform screen is obtained as the image processing, that is, until there is no distinction between the imaging area and the non-image area of the image read by the scanner. Each digital composite image corresponding to the sample 103 and an L-version print sample sample 103 were prepared.

(Preparation of Print Sample Specimen 104) The RGB image obtained by reading the developed sample 102 was converted into La by using the Photoshop made by Adobe.
b image information, and the obtained L image information is converted to the sample 1
02 and replace it with the monochrome image information read from
A color image was obtained by converting it to an image.

Further, each of the RGB digital composite image data was converted to an L-size (89 mm.times.) At a resolution of 300 dpi using a digital minilab system QD-21 manufactured by Konica Corporation.
127 mm) of Konica color paper type QAA7 to produce an L-size print sample sample 104.

(Preparation of Print Sample Sample 105)
A print sample 105 was prepared in the same manner except that the image reading sample was changed to the sample 103.

The print samples 101 to 105 produced as described above were evaluated as described below.

(Evaluation of Printed Image) Printed sample samples 101 to 105 were subjected to sensory evaluation of sharpness using a sharpness chart scene and color reproducibility using a Macbeth color chart scene. The sensory evaluation was performed by ten panelists according to the following criteria, and the average score of each sample was obtained.

5: Both sharpness and color reproducibility are good and comparable to the reference print sample. 4: Compared with the reference print, sharpness and color reproducibility are slightly lowered, but good image quality is obtained. 3: The sharpness and color reproducibility are slightly lower than the reference print, but the image quality is sufficiently acceptable. 2: The sharpness and color reproducibility are lower, and Has a clear difference and is an unacceptable image quality. 1: The resolution is extremely low, the color reproducibility is significantly deteriorated, and the image quality is extremely unacceptable. Then, the digital image data of the print sample samples 101 to 105 Among them, using a grayscale composite image, the number of gradation reproduction steps was observed on a CRT screen and evaluated. In the evaluation, the limit number of gray scale steps at which a density change was observed in the obtained gray scale was obtained. In addition, it means that sensitivity is so high that a limit step numerical value is small.

Table 1 shows the results obtained as described above.

[0098]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, Sample 1 of the present invention
02 has the same or better image quality performance than the comparative sample 101. Even when a color filter array and a film having no color discrimination ability are used in combination, comparable image quality can be obtained. It was proved. Further, in the sample 103 of the present invention, although the sharpness was slightly lowered with respect to the sample 102, a result showing an improvement in sensitivity was obtained, and the present invention in which the sensitivity was improved by combining a microlens and a color filter array was obtained. The effect was proved. Further, it was clear from the results of Samples 104 and 105 of the present invention that sharpness can be restored by performing the Lab image synthesizing process of the present invention.

[0100]

According to the present invention, there is provided a digital color image forming method capable of obtaining excellent color images and high sensitivity at the time of photographing even when a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having no color discrimination ability is used. A photographing camera and an image forming apparatus used for the camera can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram in which color separation means is mounted in a camera.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating recording on a photosensitive material surface from a color separation unit.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a color filter array.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing recording on a photosensitive material surface from a microlens and color filter array during photographing.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an adhesion mechanism using a color filter array and a photosensitive material pressing plate.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a color filter array provided with a mechanism for inserting a photosensitive material.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a mechanism for switching a color filter array in a camera.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a switch for switching a color filter array in the camera.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a light control mechanism using an ND filter.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing an apparatus that uses a three-wavelength fluorescent lamp or a halogen lamp as a light source, has a function of reading a color separation image by switching filters, and reproducing a color image.

FIG. 11 uses a light-emitting diode (LED) as a light source, reads a color-separated image, and performs Lab image synthesis processing.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an apparatus having a color image reproducing function.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating image alignment (distortion correction).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing image information processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2 Color separation means (color filter arrangement) 3 Color filter 4 Photosensitive material (film) 5 Microlens 6 Condensing means (microlens array) 7 Incident light from camera lens 8 Crimping plate provided in camera 9 Spring 10 Motor 22 Sensor 33 Film image information recording area 34 Mask image

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03B 11/00 G03B 11/00 H04N 1/60 H04N 9/11 1/46 1/40 D 9/11 1/46 Z F term (for reference) 2H048 BA43 BB02 BB07 BB15 BB41 2H083 AA02 AA20 AA32 AA54 5C065 AA03 BB41 BB46 DD02 DD16 EE03 EE11 EE17 FF05 GG13 GG18 GG30 GG32 5C077 LL19 MM03 MP08 PP23 PP23 PP32 PP32 PP32 PP19

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A color separation means between a shutter mechanism in a camera and a silver halide light-sensitive material for separating subject information into different color components and discretely recording each of the separated color components. The color component information of the subject is discretely recorded on the surface of the silver halide photosensitive material, and after the silver halide photosensitive material is developed, the image information is read by means of converting the image into an electric signal, and the position of the image data is determined. Obtaining image information for each color component discretely recorded by the color separation means using the defining means, and reproducing the color image by means for interpolating a missing information area in each color component image. Digital color image forming method. 2. A photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, at the time of photographing, the color separation means for separating the light into different color components for discrete recording and the photosensitive surface of the silver halide photosensitive material are brought into close contact with each other to record image information on the silver halide photosensitive material. A camera for photographing, comprising: 3. The photographing camera according to claim 2, further comprising means for providing to the silver halide light-sensitive material information for identifying the information recorded by the color separating means. 4. A means for discriminating that a silver halide photosensitive material has been photographed by using color separation means for separating image information into different color components and recording each separately. Means for converting the recorded image information into electrical signals to reproduce a monochrome image, means for specifying the position of image data corresponding to each color component discretely recorded by the color separation means, and An image forming apparatus comprising: means for interpolating an information area lacking a color and reproducing a color image. 5. The digital color image forming method according to claim 1, wherein said color separating means is combined with a light collecting means. 6. The photographing camera according to claim 2, wherein said color separating means is combined with a light collecting means. 7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said color separation means is combined with a light collecting means. 8. The digital color image forming method according to claim 1, wherein said color separation means has a light collecting means. 9. The photographing camera according to claim 2, wherein said color separation means has a light collecting means. 10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said color separation means has a light collecting means. 11. A digital color image forming method according to claim 5, wherein said color separation means is a stripe or mosaic color separation color filter. 12. The photographing camera according to claim 6, wherein the color separation means is a stripe or mosaic color separation color filter. 13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said color separation means is a stripe or mosaic color separation color filter. 14. The digital color image forming method according to claim 11, wherein said condensing means is a micro lens. 15. The camera according to claim 12, wherein said condensing means is a micro lens. 16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said condensing means is a micro lens.